Cotton-press



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

L. MILLER.

- COTTON PRESS.

No. 367,221. Patented July 26, 1887.

ITWESSES 4 V IJVVEWTOR .dttomey elo-Lrlhognpher, Walmngtnn. n. c,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. MILLER.

COTTON PRESS.

N0. 367,221. Patented July 26,1887. I

UNITED S ATES PATENT OFFICE.

' LEWIS MILLER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COTTON-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,221, dated July 26, 1887.

/ Application filed February 5, 18-7.v Serial No. 226,676. (No model) To all whom, it may concern.-

in the county ofPhiladelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Presses; and I do'declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and'figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

It is well known that in the usual method now employed for compressing cotton-bales, by a simple vertical pressure between two pressing heads or platens, a serious difliculty lies in the fact that the bales, by reason of the great pressure they are subjected to, bulge or expand laterally at their ends in a very uneven and irregular manner, thus preventing their being packed or stored away compactly. This -is a very serious defect with the ordinary presses, inasmuch as most of the cotton is compressed for the purpose of storage in the holds of ships for transportation from place to place,

and the irregularity in the length of the bales and the unevenness of the ends of the same prevent them being storedaway in an even and compact manner, thereby occasioning considerable; waste of space where it is very desirable to utilize all the space possible. It is to remedy this-difficulty or drawback with the ordinary press now in use that this invention is especially designed; and to this end it consists, essentially, in combining with a hydrostatic press of any approved construction having a stationary upper platen and a verticallymoving lower platen laterally or endwise pressing heads or platens, which are connected to and move simultaneously in a vertical direction with the vertically-moving lower platen of the press, as will be fully hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

In describing this invention so that others skilled in the art may be enabled to construct the same, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a hydrostatic cotton-press having my improvements applied thereto, a portion of the press being broken away to show the same; Fig. 2, a plan view of one of the eudwise-pressing cylinders, showing their vertical guides or ways in section; and Fig. 3, an end view of the lower portion of the press, showing in end elevation one of the endwise-pressing cylinders and heads.

Referring to the annexed drawings by letters, A designates a suitable base of masonry, upon which, in any suitable manner, are located the base-plates G and the arched housings or standards B, supported and secured, between the upper shouldered ends of which is the correspondinglyshouldered upper platen, D, having its lower face provided with the usual baleband grooves. Located upon the said upper platen are the compressing'cylinders E, containing the usual pistons, which are connected to the upper cross-head, F, in the usual manner. Connecting and supplying all the cylinders with pressing-fluid is the pipe G, which is connected to any suitable head or source of supply or power.

The vertically-moving crosshead F is connected to the vertically-moving lower platen, H, by endless links or bands I, so that when the said cross-head is elevated by the pistons the lower platen, which will carry the bale to be pressed, will also be moved in a vertical direction. a

The press, as above briefly alluded to, is fully described and claimed in my application bearing the same date of filing as this case, and a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The lower platen, H, which is supported by the links, is provided with end extensions, J, which are preferably in the same plane with the upper surface of the said platen, and are provided with transverse shoulders a, as shown in Fig. 1.

Secured to the end extensions, J, and provided with shoulders corresponding to the shoulders 00 upon the face of the same, are cylinders K, in which are adapted to reciprocate the pistons L. The inner ends of the pistons L are provided with vertical dovetail grooves, in which are removably secured the pressingheads M, they being of course provided with ICO ject of thus securing the pressing-heads reinovably to their pistons is to enable heads of larger or smaller superficial area to be readily attached, should the exigencies of the case require it.

Secured upon or cast integral with the cylinders K, upon their sides, are grooved lugs or projections K, which are adapted to embrace the vertical ways or guides B upon the inner faces of the housings B, and thereby assist in guiding the said cylinders when moving in a vertical direction, as is evident.

Bolted to the rear end of the cylinders K are the cylinders N, in which reciprocate the pistons 0, they being connected to the pressing-heads M by rods P. The object of the cylinders N is merely to return the pressing-heads and their pistons to their proper positions after the final pressure of the bale. The cylinders K and N are respectively provided with parts I) and c for the admission and exit of the pressing-fluid.

The side pressing-heads may be operated simultaneously in a lateral direction with the vertical pressing-heads; or they may be operated after the final pressure of the bale, as may be found desirable.

It will be observed that-the essential feature of this invention is the lateral pressing-heads, secured to and moving in a vertical direction simultaneously with the lower platen of the press.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cotton-press, a stationary platen, a cross-head, a vertically-moving lower platen having end extensions and connecting-links combined with laterally-pressing heads and cylinders secured to the said end extensions of the lower platen and moving therewith, substantially as described.

2. In a hydraulic balingpress, the combination of the vertically-movable cross-head and platen, their connecting-links, the ram-cylinders sustained upon a stationary cross-head, D, rigidly secured upon arched standards provided with guides B, the horizontal cylinders K, vertically movable and provided with reciprocating pistons, the said cylinders being also provided with bifurcated lugs which embrace the guides B upon the arched standards,

and the shouldered lateral extensions J of the lower platen engaging with shoulders on the bottoms of the said cylinders K, substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-press, the combination with the standards provided with vertical ways, the stationary platen, the cross-head, the lower platen having end extensions, and the connecting-links, of the laterally-pressing heads and cylinders, the latter being secured to the said end extensions of the lower platen, and provided with grooved or bifurcated lugs embracing the vertical ways on the standards, substantially as described.

4. In a hydraulic cotton-press, the combination of a vertically-movable erosshead, and a vertically-movable platen, H, with horizontally-compressing heads M M, applied in cylinders which are vertically movable with said platen H, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS MILLER.

Vitnesses:

Urns. D. DAVIS, \V. D. ALEXANDER. 

